Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has dismissed the US president’s threat to bomb Iran’s civilian infrastructure unless the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened
US President Donald Trump’s war with Iran is making life worse for ordinary Americans, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said in response to ultimatums over the Strait of Hormuz.
In an expletive-laden post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump warned that Iran would be “living in hell” unless the vital waterway is reopened to shipping by Tuesday, 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (Wednesday, 12:00 a.m. GMT). He also repeated his threat to bomb Iran’s power plants and bridges.
Responding on X hours later, Qalibaf urged Trump to end what he described as a “dangerous game.”
“Your reckless moves are dragging the United States into a living HELL for every single family, and our whole region is going to burn because you insist on following Netanyahu’s commands,” Qalibaf wrote, referring to the Israeli prime minister.
“Make no mistake: You won’t gain anything through war crimes,” the Iranian official added.
Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to “enemy ships” shortly after the US and Israel initiated their air campaign on February 28. Tehran later said navigation rules would change and that the strait would remain inaccessible to the US and Israel for an extended period.
Traffic through the strait normally accounts for 20–25% of global oil shipments and around 20% of liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade. Disruptions linked to the ongoing conflict are driving up energy prices, including in the US, where the average price of gasoline has risen to $4 per gallon for the first time since 2022.
Russia’s envoy to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, said Washington fails to understand that Tehran would only accept agreements based on “reasonable compromises,” not ultimatums.
